Every NFL teams’ best defender this season

Although only 12 NFL teams are still alive this season, each franchise can point to at least one bright spot for the year. To help them out, we’ve identified the best defensive player from each team this season.

There were a few players on the Cardinals’ roster who had a case for this spot, with two first team All-Pro corners to choose from. Mathieu’s versatility working out of the slot and at safety, offering impact in multiple phases of the game (positive grade as a run defender, pass rusher and in coverage), gives him the edge over long-time teammate Patrick Peterson this season.

Often overlooked in an increasingly crowded market of top corners, Trufant has been one of the best since he entered the league, and stood out with consistent play once again in 2015. He may not make as many plays on the ball as some would like to see, but few corners give away less than Trufant.

Another exceptional season in run defense for the Ravens’ former third-round pick; Williams has only graded negatively in run defense in six of 34 games over the last two seasons. Williams’ best four games came in the first half of the year.

At the beginning of the season, most would have assumed a defensive lineman would be in this spot for the Bills. A combination of Darby exceeding expectations, along with the Bills’ defensive front underwhelming in the first year under Rex Ryan, sees one of this season’s best rookies lead the Bills’ defense from the secondary.

32 linebackers played more snaps than Kuechly during the regular season, but none had a bigger impact than the Panthers’ star. A force against the run and pass, Kuechly continued to provide impact plays and recorded a career-low six missed tackles.

Rarely does a free agent signing pan out so well in year one as the Bears’ signing of McPhee did. Proving himself not to be a product of playing alongside Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil, McPhee accounted for nearly a quarter of the pressure the Bears’ defense generated in 2015.

Back near his 2012 best, Atkins was a force in the heart of the Bengals’ defense as their top pass rusher. Atkins squares off against the Steelers for the third time this weekend, and has 10 pressures in his first two meetings with Pittsburgh this season.

Competition was thin on the ground on this Browns’ defense, and Dansby’s subpar work against the run would see him lose out on most other teams. Focusing on the positives, Dansby’s three interceptions were tied for third-most among linebackers this season.

Had he not chosen to sit the final game of the season, Lee would have played a career-high in snaps this season, and the Cowboys certainly felt the benefit of his presence on the field. The Cowboys’ defense is geared towards channeling ball carriers to Lee and Barry Church, with that duo accounting for 28 percent of the Dallas’ defensive stops this season.

Miller continues to be a one-man wrecking crew for the Broncos, recording multiple pressures in every single game this season. It’s a staggering statement of how tremendous Miller is when you can say that this was still short of his career-best season.

Slay engineered a remarkable turnaround after surrendering 123 yards and a touchdown to the Broncos in his worst performance of the season back in Week 3. Thereafter, only two corners earned a higher grade than Slay, and he only allowed 438 yards in the subsequent 13 games.

The only downside in Daniels’ season is that his production dropped off late in the year, failing to record a sack or hit since the Packers’ Week 11 win in Minnesota. Prior to that, Daniels had taken a step up among the league’s elite 3-4 defensive ends, continuing his consistent progression since he entered the NFL.

What more can you say about J.J. Watt? A broken hand made him look like a mortal defensive end for a couple of weeks, but in the last two weeks of the season, he produced devastating displays to help power the Texans to the AFC South title. This is no longer a one-man defense, but Watt is still the unquestioned leader.

After excelling in coverage last season, Freeman took a massive step forward as a disruptive force in run defense. Freeman earned a grade below -1.0 in run defense only once all season, and finished the year on a streak of eight straight games with a positive overall grade.

Smith offered some of the very few bright moments on a desperately disappointing defense in Jacksonville this season. Smith started slowly with eight missed tackles in the first four weeks of the year, but finished strong—only four other linebackers earned a higher grade after the first six weeks of the season.

After Johnson played only 32 snaps in 2014, the Chief was back at his best this season in both run defense and pass coverage. Kansas City edge defenders may steal the show sometimes, but Johnson is a star in the heart of the front seven.

Under pressure to perform after Cameron Wake was lost to injury in Week 8, Vernon delivered emphatically. Vernon racked up more than 70 percent of his pressure over the final eight weeks of the season, registering at least four pressures and multiple knockdowns (sacks and hits) in each of his last eight games.

A star-studded Vikings’ defense gave a wealth of options for best defender, with Linval Joseph and Anthony Barr more than deserving of this title as well. Ultimately, Smith gets the nod for a spectacularly well-rounded season, adept in deep or underneath coverage and stepping up in run support.

Finally getting a bigger role in the Giants’ defensive line rotation this season, Ayers delivered in spades after his return from injury against the Cowboys in Week 7. He recorded multiple pressures in every game he played this season, and earned a negative overall game grade only once all year (Week 9 at Tampa Bay).

A broken leg in Week 17 was a cruel way for Wilkerson’s season to end after delivering some of the best football of his career, proving once and for all that he is worthy of a hefty second contract. Wilkerson racked up multiple pressures in every game and multiple stops in 11-of-16 games.

The Browns chose to walk away from Sheard, and he made them rue that decision immediately. Brought in as a complementary piece for Rob Ninkovich and Chandler Jones, Sheard outperformed them both. Earning a positive grade in every game he played this season, Sheard is proof that being outside the starting lineup doesn’t mean a player can’t provide the impact of a starter.

A bad defense doesn’t mean that every player on the unit isn’t pulling their weight; Jordan was a beacon of excellence on a consistently listless Saints’ defense. Jordan topped 70 pressures for the second time in his career, but those playing behind him couldn’t capitalize on his consistently disruptive play.

Mack’s performance against the Broncos in Week 14 will live long in the memory of Denver fans; regardless of who was trying to block him, that was a truly special performance. Last year, Mack was arguably the league’s best run defender, and he followed it up in his second season by being arguably the league’s best pass rusher. The Raiders have themselves one of the league’s truly elite defenders in Mack.

A versatile weapon for the Eagles’ defense, Jenkins was at home in the box, deep, and covering the slot. More than just a versatile defender, Jenkins offered genuine quality at a variety of positions, vindicating the Eagles’ decision to sign him in 2014 after an underwhelming start to his career in New Orleans.

A year in transition for the Steelers’ defense led to some inconsistency across the unit, and Heyward didn’t escape that. However, true lows were rare for Heyward, and when he was at his best early in the season, he produced games to match any 3-4 defensive end in the NFL. The Steelers will want Heyward at his destructive best to help support a Super Bowl-caliber offense.

The only disappointment in Jason Verrett’s career so far is that he hasn’t proven that he can stay healthy and on the field. When he has played, Verrett has been a match for most corners in the NFL, but his 965 snaps over the last two seasons combined were topped by 26 corners this season alone.

Only the returning NaVorro Bowman was more productive for the 49ers this season, but even Bowman couldn’t match Williams’ performance level. Finally entrenched as the 49ers’ starting nose tackle after injuries curtailed each of his last two seasons, Williams finished the season on a tear with 19 stops over the final six weeks—as many as J.J. Watt.

After a couple of bumps early in the season (four negative coverage grades in the first six weeks), Sherman continued to be, well, Richard Sherman, and enters the season potentially a little under the radar for just how well he is playing. After the Seahawks’ home defeat to Carolina, no corner earned a higher grade than Sherman, who allowed only 218 yards on 43 targets in that 11-week spell.

There is no greater compliment to pay a defender than to say that he is matching the best performances of J.J. Watt, and that is just what Donald did for the Rams this season. He started the year by demolishing the Seahawks in Week 1, and ended it in a similar vein against the Seahawks once again, as well as the 49ers. Firmly in the running for our Defensive Player of the Year award.

Signature stat: 41 QB pressures (Most on team for third straight year)

In spite of playing through injury and being the focus of every opponent’s pass protection schemes this season, McCoy was still the Buccaneers’ most productive defensive lineman in 2015. A lack of a supporting cast around McCoy, and a down year for Lavonte David, makes this McCoy’s accolade again, even when he struggled through injuries.

Stranded on a perennial struggler, Casey continues to be starved of the attention and accolades his performances deserve. That Casey was still the Titans’ most productive pass rusher, in spite of their investment in Derrick Morgan and Brian Orakpo, is a remarkable endorsement of his importance to this Tennessee defense.

After a difficult rookie season, Bashaud Breeland blossomed in his second year, though a difficult end to the season took some of the gloss off of his performance. Breeland let up 31 percent of his yardage total for the season (238-of-752 yards) over the final three weeks, but prior to that, was our eighth-highest graded cornerback in coverage.

Ben joined Pro Football Focus in 2007, and has since been in charge of the company’s analysis process. He also contributes to PFF’s weekly NFL podcast. Follow @PFF_Ben

etyb

I feel like whatever yardage Breeland allowed in Week 17 can be ignored, considering the team lost like three different DBs and he was likely trying not to get hurt, and the team as a whole was playing a ton of soft coverage.

Samuel Myers

Only four linebackers posted a grade higher than Telvin Smith over the last 10 WEEKS of the season and he ends up with a grade of 64? I am on board with most of this, but that makes no sense. Also troubling is the idea that no defender posted a higher grade for a team that finished in the top 5 in YPC against. Roy Miller had a very strong year in the middle of that defense, very strong, and while Jared Odrick had some quiet games he also posted some very impactful performances. Very questionable.

Aaron McFarland

Aaron Donald should be DPOY, but I am sure it will be a popularity contest and he won’t win, just like the MVP.

Craig W

JJ Watt gets all the coverage and will get it again. Unfortunately for Donald he put in this great year before they became the LA Rams.

anon76returns

“revert to being the LA Rams”.
The league did exist before 1995.

Craig W

Excuse me for not including shit that happened 21 years ago. I guess I should still have my Minneapolis Lakers Jersey on.

anon76returns

Lakers in Minneapolis makes a lot more sense than Lakers in LA. As does a team called “the Jazz” in New Orleans instead of Utah.

Stephen J Brady

Should be Utah tumble weeds.. Utah Snow Falcons..

anon76returns

Unfortunately “Utes” was already taken.

Dumped underdog

FOR GOODNESS SAKES THIS ISNT ABOUT BASKETBALL GUYS!

Ben

I’m not a fan of any of the teams these guys play for, so here’s my unbiased opinion:
1. Luke Kuechly
2. Aaron Donald
3. J.J. Watt

fckskinnyjeans

HERES MY UNBIASED OPINION. YOU ARE A FAGGOT SO IS YOUR DAD AND YOUR MOM IS A WHORE

Eric Sloss

What’s not said about Vernon with the Phins is that he is dirty as hell. So many games this yr, he’s been penalized for roughing the passer. He was at it again against NE when he cheap shot Brady to extend a drive. He and Suh jump offsides way too much also. Vernon is a FA this offseason, but I would not trust him with a big contract.

Skol

Anyone know a good hotel in Santa Clara? I need a place to stay for the Superbowl. I am drinking Zimmer’s Purple Gatorade

NAJ

Haha i wish i shared your optimism. It’s a little unfortunate we’re playing the 1 team i wanted to avoid. Current playoffs seedings suck!

Craig W

We gotta get the hard part done early. Then it is easy cruising through Arizona and Carolina. Just hope we don’t play the Pats in the SB. They always see to somehow know what play is coming next. Yeah, I think it might be a little tough looking right now.

Nikrizzi17

Check out trivago my nigga!

Sincerly rude Brad

?????? Umm Vikqueens will get destroyed by the Seahawks man. Good luck next year.

Dave

Yeah Lavonte David really had a down year. 3rd in the NFL in tackles with 147. 3 sacks. 2nd in INT’s with 3. 2nd in TDs with 1. #1 in pass deflections with 16. And 2nd in fumble recoveries with 2. Yeah he sucks. And he did that on a pile of garbage defense. Your ratings are so bad it’s not even funny. Well ill rate PFF and I rate your ratings a 37.3. Do me a favor and actually watch the games instead of just reading boxscores. Because if you actually watched Lavonte David play you would know that he absolutely didn’t have a down year. He had an off first 2 weeks of the season. And has been absolutely dominate since. Do me a favor and go watch every snap of last week’s Carolina TB game. One of Kuechley and David looked like a 99.9. And it definitely wasn’t Keuchley. David was all over the place. He was a beast. Your ratings suck, plain and simple. You are the same people who rated the Patriots as the best secondary in football lol..not Denver, Arizona, Jets, KC, Atlanta, Minnesota, or Seattle. That tells you everything you need to know about PFF

Autocephallus

I’m sorry your son is held in such poor regard here, Mr. David.

AJ

I actually find it hilarious that you criticize PFF for only looking at boxscores (which is completely untrue by the way), and yet the only evidence you use to make a case for Lavonte David is boxscore stats.

NAJ

Not sure he’d know what irony was if it jumped up and slapped him in his uneducated face

matt

How is he 2nd in TDs when he had 1 and 7 guys had 2?

AJ

To be fair, if JJ Watt does win DPOY, he deserved the award in 2013 but lost out due to playing on a bad team and not having glamour boxscore stats. He was far and away the best defensive player that year, so winning it this year would somewhat make up for it, but at the expense of Aaron Donald.

Ben

Aaron Donald? What about Luke Kuechly??? The guy missed 3.5 games and still has 6 ints with 3 pick 6’s… Among other incredible stats. No defensive player has impacted their team as much as Kuechly this year. I’m not a Carolina fab, so I’m saying this from an unbiased view.

NAJ

Jags BEST defender rated at 64.7….hahahahaha

Anyone

It’s almost like PFF’s grades are complete and utter bullshit

Jack

I think he is laughing at the Jags and not PFF.

Packerfan12

Nice to see Daniels get some love, if only his teammates in the front seven would stop under performing. It’s like they’ve all graduated from Pepper’s school of checking out until randomly dominating a game.

bbies1973

It is apparent to me that PFF doesn’t account for penalties. Dolphins DE Olivier Vernon single handedly cost his team more games than even their entire offensive line combined with completely unnecessary penalties at the worst possible times.